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Microsoft Responds To Xbox One Used Game Rumors

Microsoft has issued a statement calling recent rumors and reports of used games restrictions for the Xbox One “inaccurate and incomplete.”

“The ability to trade in and resell games is important to gamers and to Xbox,” the company said. “Xbox One is designed to support the trade in and resale of games. Reports about our policies for trade in and resale are inaccurate and incomplete. We will disclose more information in the near future.”

The problem here is in Microsoft’s failure to communicate clearly and in a timely fashion. The reason such rumors and reports have surfaced—incomplete though they may be—is that Microsoft has not done a good job conveying a simple and straightforward message to its consumers and the gaming press.

Hopefully we do get more information in the near future, because as it stands we are left piecing through the rubble.

Ultimately, the end of retail-based physical copies of games will be a net gain for consumers, as prices will be able to come down and competition should, theoretically, drive prices down. But in the meantime, if buying and selling used games is made more difficult or more expensive, consumers will likely feel the pain in their wallets.

Technology-driven industry sea changes are often painful, however, so I maintain a broadly optimistic outlook regardless.

Either way, it’s time we had clear answers from both Microsoft and Sony on how used games will be handled in the next generation. Hopefully by E3 we will have a clearer picture.

Update: I failed to note that much of the speculation surrounding used games and the Xbox One has been derived from statements made by Microsoft employees and/or sources close to the Xbox One, so this isn’t simply base speculation we’re talking about, but rather an “incomplete” picture based on both what Microsoft has said and has failed to say. I intended to say as much with the original post, but apparently that did not come across as clearly as I intended.

Update 2: I’ve written a longer post about the many problems we’ve seen from the Xbox One in which I revisit the topic of used games. Read it here.

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Well, I think others have made great arguments for why this actually isn’t going to happen. If Microsoft and Sony are the only places in which one can buy a game, the only real competition is with each other (yes, there’s always PC gaming, but that is a small fraction of the gaming market, and there are lots of games that aren’t on the PC). They could undercut each other repeatedly…or they could decide that it’s mutually beneficially to keep prices high. Collusion is illegal, but it would be pretty tough to prove if they just keep prices where they are. Let’s just say I’m not optimistic about this.

A more likely scenario is that Sony sees the public relations disaster this has become for Microsoft and decides that whatever money it might lose by not adopting a similar policy will be made up in increased market share when disgruntled XBOX 360 owners (and there are a lot of them, judging by the reaction online–check out his article to get an idea: http://metro.co.uk/2013/05/26/weekend-hot-topic-part-2-xbox-one-verdict-3808263/) defect to Sony in droves, and the PS4 dominates the generation.

Discuss what? It’s simple! Tell us what happens, you could say, we can put in our game that we pay for like we usually do. Typical Microsoft, they’re trying to lie to you and try to say “Yeah you could play used games” acting like it’s nothing and try to let us find out about the Used Games fee.

Microsoft is trying to either trick you or lie to you. Tell us the damn truth, stop trying to make up other stories.

Disclose more info in the future, what a load of crap. Just tell us the damn info, do we have to pay a fee to play a “Used Game”? Its a simple question to with a simple answer. But they are trying to make it complicated.

Do you own a PS2 or XBOX? Did you buy a PS3 or XBOX 360? I don’t own any of the Sony consoles, but my brother does. He can’t play PS2 games on his PS3. How is this any different from what Microsoft is doing? Microsoft is not, “tricking” you, neither is Sony. PS3 and Xbox 360 had their time. Now we have the next generation of consoles. I don’t know about you, but I will likely continue to play some games on my, “old XBOX 360″ console even after the new console comes out. I don’t understand your complaint. Whether you own a PS3 or XBOX 360, why do feel the consoles should be backwards compatible? If you already own either device, just play the old gen games on them….what is your problem?

he’s not talking about backwards compatible. That isn’t what the article is about. It’s about rumours that MS is trying to close down or steal a cut from the resale market. That after next gen boxes and games are common, you won’t be able to play just any game for which you have a disk(compatible with the then current box).

Instead there will always be a fee.

and he’s right it’s a simple questions. Put disk in and play. OR a Paywall.

Dwane, your brother bought the wrong version of the PS3 if he can’t play the PS2 titles on it. At launch and for a couple years following (pre-slim versions) you could in fact play PS2 titles on it through the disc drive. Now you are forced to get the digital distribution version (new cash transaction) for the media he already purchased if he wants to continue to use it on the new system.

I hope they will make a clear and direct decision and statement for their upcoming business model, regarding used games and always online. Hopefully the result will be in the consumers best interest so that many of us will still continued support to MS new console.

If I resell my game privately I get 100% of the profit. Microsoft is trying to either A) take some of that money or B) force me to go to game stop and get financially raped.

It’s not clear which it will be yet. but the prospect of the latter is what has everyone up in arms.

It’s not about Gamestop. I’m sure no one has a tear to shed for them.

It’s about microsoft trying to get you to pay for a game twice, Thrice, everytime it changes hands. The only people who usually get away with this sort of taxation is the government. I don’t like the idea of Corporations getting away with being like a government. That would be worse that the what we already put up with.

well you should also know that video games fall under the same laws as movies and music. it wasn’t until technology was in place to prevent it.

what you don’t understand is that cd, dvd, or bluray, you think you buy. you don’t own it you own a license. so technically you must contact the party who owns the content on the mdeia format to get permission to sell it.

let me ask you this. if you were a small time developer, do you think you could stay afloat with a majority of people buying your game used with no cut in?

also since you sell something privately that’s counts as income, that you are not reporting…..lol

how are you paying twice? you already bought the game new. you sell it you should be taxed as such. it’s only logical put yourself in their shoes. understand the laws a bit more about media licensing.

you may feel it’s unfair, but it’s reasonable and well with in the dmca..or whatever.